While PH may focus on the more performance oriented end of the SUV market, the majority of sales of course come from further down the range. Indeed, the BMW X5, Mercedes GLE and Volvo XC90 are all available with four-cylinder diesel engines of 2.1 litres or less.
Kind of the same, but a bit different
Which is a soft way of introducing the fact that the
Range Rover Sport
is now available with a four-cylinder diesel, the Ingenium engine seen in the XE but with another turbo. Because, let's be honest, traditionalists may not be all that receptive to a four-cylinder Range Rover.
The numbers are competitive enough at least. The SD4 has 240hp and 369lb ft, enough for a predicted eight-second dash to 62mph, 128mph flat out, 45.6mpg and 164g/km. For reference, an XC90 D5 makes 235hp and 354lb ft, but is fractionally quicker and more efficient. For keen spotters, the four-cylinder diesel Sport is identifiable by two exhaust pipes on one side; all other models have one on each side.
The rest of the updates for the 2017 model year are much as seen in the Range Rover last week, with tech like the Low Friction Launch and InControl Touch Pro borrowed from the Jaguar F-Pace. Also new are an optional Drive Pack (blind spot monitor, sign recognition, reverse traffic detection), a Drive Pro Pack (adding adaptive cruise control and emergency braking) and a Driver Condition Monitor, to wake you up if all that semi-autonomous tech has sent you to sleep.
Is this the same house Mercedes uses?
Outside the Sport is unchanged, bar a Bright Pack optionally available on Autobiography Dynamic models. Lending the car a "more vivid" finish, its Atlas Silver front grille and bonnet mesh should ensure nobody will hold you up on the outside lane of the M40.
The updated Sport goes on sale later this year, with prices starting at £59,700 for the SD4 diesel HSE. Yep, £60K for the four-cylinder diesel. The V6 diesel kicks off at £63,100 for the HSE, rising to £80,300 for the Autobiography Dynamic. The diesel hybrid is available in either £75,200 HSE Dynamic or £86,800 Autobiography Dynamic spec. The supercharged V6 petrol also joins the range, available only as an HSE Dynamic at £64,400. Both the V8 diesel and 510hp V8 petrol are solely available as Autobiography Dynamic models, both also costing £86,800. The SVR remains unchanged at top of the range, starting at £96,900. Keep your eyes peeled at the school gates from early in 2017!